Silicone depositions: an unusual finding in the explanted and newly transplanted lungs

A woman aged 45 years suffered from progressive unclassifiable interstitial lung disease (ILD) despite treatment with corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Chest CT showed extensive bilateral ground glass with associated mosaic attenuation and air trapping on expiration, along with basal predominant fibrosis, volume loss and secondary bronchial dilatation (figure 1A). Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and transbronchial biopsies showed features consistent with acute neutrophilic inflammation. Thorough medical history and detailed clinical examination revealed no relevant factors other than the fact that her husband kept pigeons in the back garden. However, she never had contact with the birds or her husband’s clothing, and the birds were removed immediately after her ILD diagnosis. Autoimmune and extended myositis screening were negative, as were avian precipitants. Due to rapid progression of the disease, she underwent bilateral lung transplantation 2 years after the initial ILD diagnosis (figure 1B). Her early...
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Images in Thorax, Thorax Source Type: research